Both UNLV men’s and women’s basketball recently faced the Mountain West’s top team, New Mexico. Unfortunately for the Rebels, both matchups ended in losses. The men fell 89-61 on Jan. 27, and the women lost 68-57 a day later on Jan. 28.
The Rebels’ biggest struggle was the 3-point line, with both teams shooting under 30 percent. The men hit 22.2 percent (4-for-18), while the women went 26.7 percent (4-for-15). UNLV’s offense leans heavily on the 3, with both the men’s and women’s teams typically attempting 15-plus 3-pointers per game.
Consequently, both teams shot under 45 percent from the field, largely due to New Mexico’s consistent perimeter defense. Still, the Lobos showed some vulnerability inside. UNLV scored more than half of its points in the paint across the two games, combining for 68 paint points. The interior production was there, but the missed 3s proved costly. If UNLV had leaned even more into its size and attacked the paint, it is fair to wonder how different the outcomes might have been.
On the bright side of a tough loss, the Rebels got a clear reminder of how important it is to adjust through different defenses and shooting slumps. Strong teams do not look the same every game. Their approach shifts from matchup to matchup, and that flexibility is what helps them keep moving forward.
This was the teams’ only regular-season meeting, but that does not mean they will not see each other again. UNLV will be looking for a chance at revenge against the Lobos and a chance to show what it means to compete as a Las Vegas team.
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Jesse Vanderveer is a basketball reporter and writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @JesseVanderveer22
